Measuring hopper



MEASURING HOPPER Filed July 14 `1924 INVENTOR.

o a e o a a e a a o a o Ell Patented Dee. l, 192.5.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON, OF GHAMPGN, ILLENOS.'

Measuarne Herren.

Application le'd July 14, 1924. Serial No. 726,004.

1/0 all' fie/0m 'it may cian-cem.'

Be it? kno-wn that' I, @imanes S; JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,` and a resident of Champaign, county of Champaign,

and State of Illinois, have invented certain' new and useful Measuring Hoppers; and I do hereby declare that the following` is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beingl had to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts.

This invention relates to" improvements in the valve mechanism for controlling the operation of measuring hoppers, used in measuring dry material of any kind and particularly in measuring and l loading crushedv stone and the like for making concrete.

Most constructions of this kindl have a plurality of bin sections for materials of different kinds, such as sand and stone for concrete, and a corresponding plurality of measuring hoppers, and each hopper has a* valve for controlling the outletk therefrom that must be operated by hand.

An object of this invention is to provide means for operating twoA hopper valves, whereby they may be simultaneously opened and closed by the operator. Thus in liandlingmaterial for concrete, the sandV and stone are fed through into the hoppers and loa-ded into the trucks below simultaneously, but indifferent quantities, proportioned according tothe mixture formula desired for the concrete that is to be made. It is important, therefore, that both hoppers 'be filled and discharged together.

A 'furtherA feature of the invention resides in the manner of supporting the measuring hoppers whereby they may be readily adjusted for capacity with' varying degrees of accuracy. By means of this arrangement a substantial variation of capacity may be quickly obtained and on the other hand a minute variation or adjustment may be made in the capacity for securing more accurate measurement. This structure has a further advantage both as a means for varying Vthecapacity of the hoppers and the sup-- ports therefor.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

IntheY drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pair of measuring hoppers, partially broken away, and their associated valve` mechanisms for controlling the inlet and outlet of the hoppers. Fig. 2 is the sameas the lower part of" Fig. 1, with the valves open instead of closed.

The particular construction herein shown and described has been made, adapted and used in connection with structures for meas# uring and loading loosev material, such as gravel, sand, stone and the likefor concrete. But the invention is notV limited to the sort of loose material handled nor to the purpose for which the material? is intended. It maybe employed in any situation where-loose materiallike sand, gravel or grain isy to be measured, an'dparticularly where a plurality of' measuring hoppers ofv different dimensions should be operated'v together.

There is shown in the drawings a large, double, conical measuring hopperl 1()y and a smaller measuring' hopper 11. Inl Fig. 1 they are shown centrally broken awayV in several places, so that the height of each hopper is relatively greater than shown. These hoppers consist really of two parts, the large major'port-ions'lO and 11, and the upper portions 110y and 111, tlielower ends of which project partially into the lower or main portions and' are surrounded? by the same. rFhis-latter feature' of construction is not: shown because it is commonl and well known in the art and isl not a' novel partof thisl invention; The upper1` or` inlet end of each hopper flaresnpwardly so aste be hop"-` per-like for receiving the material tov be measured from the outlet pan 12A located above it andy which is the outlet forl a large storage binabove the panA 12, not here shown. This' storage bin may be of several tons orl a hundred tons capacity. The pan 12 hasawide4 rectangular rim 112 with inclined downwardly and inwardly tapering sides to the outlet.

The valves for controlling the discharge from the supply bin into the hopper are more fully described' in my LettersV Patent No'. 1,491,803, issuedY April 29, 192e. How ever, as shown herein, there are provided the horizontal valves 15 adapted to open and close the openings in the pan 12. Each of the said valves is provided with arms 16 which are connected by a connecting bar structurel. A hand lever`18 is connected with one" ofthe valves for opening and closing-it, and'when4V one is' opened or? closed the other isv given the same movement through the connecting structure 17 and its associated arm. Therefore, it will be observed that simultaneous and unitary control is had of the discharge of the material from the bins to the respective hoppers.

As the upper portions of the hoppers, 1l() and lll, are directly connected or formed as a part of the lower or major portions lO and 1l, the lower or major portions are suspended therefrom so as to permit their rela tive positions to be varied. It will be obvious that upon the two portions being brought closer together', the upper' portion telescoping in the lower, the capacity will be reduced. Vice versa, as said portions are separated by lowering the lower portions tho capacity will be increased. In order that the measln'ing capacity of the hoppers may be varied, the lower portions l() and 1l are adjustably suspended from the upper portions 110 and 111 respectively. In this connection the upper portions 110 and 111 of the hoppers are suspended by the chains 19 from the hooks 20 which are secured to the pans The portions 110, lll are provided with outwardly extending supporting brackets 21 in which the hooks 22 are mounted, the hook portions thereof extending downwardly and being provided with a relatively long threaded bolt protruding through au ear in the bracket and being supported thereon by a nut for obtaining slight adjustments in the relative positions of the hook and bracket. The lower portions of the hopper are provided with straps 23 rigidly secured to the sides thereof, said straps being connected to the hooks 22 by the chain 24, said chain being of that type having relatively large links. As the straps 23 are provided with suitable hooks, the relative positions of the two portions of the hoppers may be varied by hooking up with various links of the chain. Thereafter a more accurate adjustment may be had by turning the nut on the threaded shank of the hook 22.

'3y means of this arrangement a very practical and simple means of varying the measuring apacity of the hoppers is obtained, which means also acts as a support for the lower portions thereof.

The valves 25 at the lower ends of the hoppers are pivoted at 26 in a frame 27 secured to the hopper, so that they can swing downward in their opening movement, as

seen in Fig. 2. Each valve has a fin or plate 2 on the back of it and centrally located with a stop 29 forming a part thereof adapted to engage' the wall of the measuring hopper and limit the opening movement-'ot the valve, as seen in Fig. 2. One valve is controlled by a hand lever 30 pivoted between its ends and its inner end is connected with the plate Q8 by a connecting bar 32. This is a toggle arrangement and is arranged yso that when the valve is closed` the middle which is operated tlnough a long connecting rod by a hand lever 36 fulcrumed at 3l, beside the lever. 30. This enables one person to operate both valves from one position simultaneously. The bell crank lever 34thas a stop 3T theron adapted to engage the outward arm from the frame :27 in order to hold the toggle joint in place and hold the valve closed, accomplishing` the same purpose as the stop 33. In order for this combined mechanism to operate well, the lower ends of the hoppers must be held in fixed posi tion. Therefore, their lower ends are connected by a rod 38. lith this arrangement the slightest movement of the lever 30 or lever 36 will move the toggle joint past center on its return movement and then the way the material is resting on the valves will cause them to open.

The invention claimed is:

i. A pair of measuring hoppers side Vby side, a brace secured to the lower ends of said two hoppers, a valve for the outlet end of each hopper, a frame on each hopper to which the valve is hinged so that it will open downward, a lever pivoted on one of said frames for operating one of said valves, a second lever pivoted on the other frame for operating the other valve, a connecting rod extending from said second lever to a point near said hand lever, and a second hand lever pivoted on the same frame as the first hand lever for operating said rod, whereby the means for operating said Yalves are positioned together.

Q. A pair of measuring hoppers side b v side, a brace secured to thelower ends ot said two hoppers, a valve for the outlet end of each hopper, a frame on each. hopper to which the valve is hinged so that it will open downward, a tin-like extension on each valve adapted to engage the hopper and limit it to the opening movement of the valve, a lever pivoted on one of said frames for operating one of said valves, a bell crank lever pivoted on the other frame for operating the other valve, a connectingl rod extending from said bell crank lever to a position near said hand lever, and a second hand lever pivoted on the same frame as the [irst hand lever for operating said rod, whereby the means for operating said valves are positioned together.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aifixed my signature.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON. 

